Berlusconi "would resign" if lied over teenager

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, facing demands to explain his relationship with a teenage girl, denied on Thursday he had had a “steamy affair” and said he would have to resign if caught lying about it.

A man flips through an Italian magazine displaying on the cover exclusive pictures of aspiring model Noemi Letizia in central Rome May 26, 2009. The story of Silvio Berlusconi's friendship with an 18-year-old woman has transfixed Italy and forced the Prime Minister onto the defensive as he leads his party into European elections and prepares to host a G8 summit. Italy's opposition, media and even the Church have been hammering him to clear up the nature of his relationship with Noemi Letizia, an aspiring model who wants to break into show business. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

The 72-year-old conservative leader’s relationship with an 18-year-old has become an explosive political issue in Italy after his wife Veronica demanded a divorce because of his womanizing and said he was “not well.”

Berlusconi has denied any wrongdoing or lying in his apparently contradictory explanations of why he went to Noemi Letizia’s 18th birthday and gave her an expensive necklace. He has promised to explain it all in parliament but not set a date.

He told reporters in Rome that if someone asked whether he had “a relationship, let’s say steamy or more than steamy, with an underage girl,” his answer would be: “Absolutely not.”

A man looks at an Italian magazine displaying on the cover exclusive pictures of aspiring model Noemi Letizia in central Rome May 26, 2009. The story of Silvio Berlusconi's friendship with an 18-year-old woman has transfixed Italy and forced the Prime Minister onto the defensive as he leads his party into European elections and prepares to host a G8 summit. Italy's opposition, media and even the Church have been hammering him to clear up the nature of his relationship with Noemi Letizia, an aspiring model who wants to break into show business. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

“I have sworn it on the life of my children. And I said that I am aware that, if this were perjury, I would have to resign a minute later,” said Berlusconi, who was elected for a third time last year and enjoys strong support in opinion polls.

The flamboyant media magnate normally has the support of the Roman Catholic establishment in Italy, but it has criticized him for setting a bad example to the country’s young people with his behavior and his very public second divorce.

The age of consent for sex in Italy is 16 but people under 18 are considered minors. Letizia turned 18 last month and was photographed with Berlusconi at her birthday party, and at other social events last year when she was 17.

CHILDREN FURIOUS

The opposition has targeted Berlusconi’s behavior ahead of European elections in June and center-left leader Dario Franceschini, on the campaign trail, asked bambini-loving Italians: “Would you have your children raised by this man?”

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The comment proved too much for Berlusconi’s offspring. They rarely make public statements — they refused to take sides when Veronica asked for a divorce this month — but they reacted with fury to Franceschini’s remark.

“Angry? I am indignant. Furious. No, this is enough,” Marina, Berlusconi’s daughter from his first marriage and chairman of publisher Mondadori, which is part of Berlusconi’s business empire, told Corriere della Sera newspaper.

“This time, I don’t intend to stay silent ... My father has always worked a lot, but there has never been a time, a single time, in which I did not have him near when I needed him.”

Son Pier Silvio, deputy chairman of the Berlusconi family broadcasting company Mediaset, demanded to know in a statement how the opposition leader dared make such a “bad taste” comment and said he shared his father’s values.

Berlusconi’s three children with Veronica Lario also put out a statement saying they were “brought up in a family atmosphere that was balanced and full of values.”

“Not everything can be put to an opinion poll. As for the question on whether a father is capable of raising a child, the only ones who can respond to that are the children themselves,” Barbara, Eleonora and Luigi Berlusconi said in the statement.

“Politics should not turn to judging the role of a father, which has nothing to do with politics.” (Editing by Robert Woodward)